Remember this?

It's some time ago, but it still is here, in my livingroom, waiting for quilting. And this weekend I got the mojo back, so I did a whole block! Three finished now in addition to some rows. Way to go!

Block number eight, the flower I showed you last week, is now finished. And boy, does this look way better than the earlier finished blocks! I think I have to do them again, my teacher won't be happy, seeing those ;)

Last weekend I was busy knitting and all of a sudden one of the needles broke. I use KnitPro needles, so I emailed the shop where I bought them. No problem, after sending the broken needle he resent a new one. so now I can knit again. Not being able to knit on my collar I knitted the last square of row 1 of Expectation.


Today I finally finished the top of My Tweets. Ah well, not completely finished, I just prepared the applique of the borders. At least I know what to do next weeks! Picetures are a bit pale, due to the sunlight(!) in my bedroom.

For those of you who think I quitted stitching, don't worry! I still stitch every evening, but progress is slow, since I also do the other crafts. Next week there will be an update of the VHRH again!

First finish of the year

Yes, I've got my first finish of the year! My Garden from Lynette Anderson is finished, inclusive quilting and binding!
These two weeks I have been quilting the border, I was determined to get it done, so I can remove the Christmas quilt that has been at my wall for two years (yes, two whole years!)

The cowl I am knitting for DD is almost done, this picture is from last friday, but there is more progress.

I also started a new knitting project, a shawl. I have to knit 17 quarters and then knit them together. Three quarters done this week.

Today was a Tweet day. I have been busy with the border. The original border is too much in addition to the blue blocks and I adjusted the border to my own taste.

One year of Tweets

Twelve blocks of Tweets are done! Almost every month of the past year I finished a block and today I have been sewing borders to My Tweets. I chose not to add sashings, but instead just sew the blocks together.
Without further ado, here is block twelve:

And here is the quilttop as it is now. I want to do mitered corners, but I have to find out how to do that exactly. So I saved that part for next week ;)

Merry Christmas!

First of all I want to wish all readers of my blog a Merry Christmas! Thank you all for reading my blog this past year. I also want to say thanks for your lovely comments. I really enjoy them all!

Last week has been a busy one, again, it becomes boring. But as holidays started last Saturday (two weeks off, yeah!!!) I feel quite relaxed.
In spite of being busy I still have accomplished some progress. My Tweets block 11 is finished!

And I started block 6 of the VHRH. I want to have half of this sampler done by the end of the year and there's a lot to be done, so you girls do some cheering from the sideline, please!

And my Lazy Katy 2 is almost done too. The only thing left to knit is the lace border, so maybe its a finish this year.

All trees are up ;)

Not only our Christmas Tree is up, all other trees in Block 5 are done! I am surprised I did it, it took only two weeks for this block and I had little stitching time this week.

No handmade ornaments in the tree. These are stored in my sewingroom, apart from the tree stuff and I simply hadn't the energy and spirit to gather them.

Not much going on this week, besides from work. Yesterday DH and I took a ride to a Woolmarket. While DH waited for me in the car (he doesn't like to come inside and loves to read a book while waitng, so no need to pity him LOL) I enjoyed the handwoven and handdyed woollies. Of course I took some of them home with me. The first is dyed by Dutch Wool Diva, the second by Monique

While DH drove the car, I simply sat beside him and enjoyed the ride, meanwhile sewing on block 11 of My Tweets. I hope to finish it this week.

House nr. 4 and knitting

Me and my family had some emotional times this week (sometimes life is unfair) and the best way for me is to stitch. It's quite relaxing and it helps to get my mind clear.
So I stitched on house number four and as a result the house is finished. Of course there is some more stitching to do to fill the block, but in a way I always feel satisfied if the house is done!

Do you remember DD and I visited prison? Well, the slouch hat I promised to knit for a little girl is finished and on the mail.

Yesterday a friend and I visited the 'Handwerk-en Quiltdagen' at Arnhem. We had a great time together, looking, feeling and discussing the fabrics and woollies. We returned home with some more stash in our bag...

Today I was busy preparing block 11 of My Tweets. I thought you might like an overview. I only show block 11 when finished. Only two blocks to go ...

Shawl , Tweets and a short break

Last week DH and I went on a trip. We left home on Monday and returned Friday, leaving DS and youngest DD at home (they were invited to come with us, but they declined). We hired an appartment at Fronhofen, near Simmern in Germany. And, as DH said, we must have had hard times, to deserve this beautiful weather! The days before we left it rained and rained all day long, but during our stay in Germany the sun was shining.
As usual, I'll add some pictures at the end of this blogpost, for those who are interested.

Of course, it wouldn't be vacation without my stitching and quilting. Having lots of space in our car I took several things with me. During the long drive I stitched and finished block 10 of My Tweets.

The third block of the Village of Hawk Run Hollow is finished too.

And there is a little bit progress on Vibrant Vista. I'm filling in the window with Kreinik, not my favorite stitching job, but, one has to do what has to be done ;)

And last but not least, a shawl was started, Lazy Katy, the pattern can be found by clicking on the picture.

Mine is like this now:

And now our trip to Fronhofen. Nature is beautiful this time of year and we enjoyed the coloured trees and little villages in the Hunsrück.

Traben Trarbach

We took the ferry to the other side of the river.

Wiesbaden

Beautiful tiles at the bath house

Bad Kreuznach

Extreme make-over

For almost a year I looked in the mirror and wondered who that elderly woman was that looked back. She was familiar, but she sure was not me! Does one of you know this lady?

I am a much younger woman, sparkling and vivd. This lady looked tired and far from happy.
So, last wednesday I went to the hairdresser and asked her to do something about it. Not just something, but I chose a different colour and length. So, coming home I was a totally different woman. DH was surprised (but he likes it!) and when I look in the mirror I see ME!

As for quilting and stitching, I finished My Tweets block 9.

And I stitched quite a bit on Call of the Raven.

Vacations are over

We came home last Friday and we really enjoyed our vacation together, DH and I. We went to Valkenburg, and from there we visited several places like Maastricht, Luik, Aken, Spa. It was great, after months of cold rainy weather we finally gor some sun! Like usual, I added some pictures at the end of this post, for those who are interested.

On to quilting. I finished block 8 of My Tweets this week and I also took some overview pictures.

Today I was busy sewing on my Jane Austen quilt number two, Blonde Jane, as a friend called her. The middel part is done now and I hope I'll find the time to finish the whole quilttop before the end of this week. Next week duty calls and from then on I don't have that much time left for quilting as I do now. Working on this quilt brings a little sun in my life!

Do you notice the little tool as a ring on my finger? A friend made it for made and it's quite convenient!

And here are the promised pictures of our vacation.

View of the Ardennes

Spa, a lovely village!


Spa


Maastricht


Valkenburg, dinner on the terrace


Vaals, where the borders of Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands come together


Aachen, funny fountain


Dinner at Hoogeveen and after that we drove straight home!